Sleigh



(No Model.)

O. F. KIMBALL.

SLEIGH. I No. 339,992. PatentedApr. 13, 1886.

InYenZbr {Me/KW mefeiww .By z'a 122 rney N /3. W 04 W UNITED STATES PATENT Crrica.

CHARLES F. KIMBALL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SLEIGH.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CrL-iRLEs F. KInBAILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sleighs, of which the following is a specification. reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sleigh constructed according to inyinvention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the front bent post of said sleigh. Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective from the; front, showing the shaftjack back of the front post. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the curved iron on the front bar. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line 00 mol Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a side elevation in detailof the shaft -jack and front post, showing thejack slightly forward of the post.

This invention belongs, more particularly,to thatclassofsleighsknowu as trotting-sleighs, and the special feature of novelty consists in the construction of the curved front post, in the strengthening-iron, preventing the post from spreading,in the attachment of the shaft jack, and in the construction and combination of the parts, all as will now be set out more fully. In this class of sleighs it is necessary that the horse should be harnessed very much nearer to the sleigh-body than is possible in sleighs of the ordinary construction. \Vhen it is attempted to bring the horse near the sleigh of ordinary construction, he is brought so near to the sleigh that there is the greatest danger of his hind feet or heels striking the frontposts of the sleigh. This is apt to be harmful in two waysnamely, to the sleigh and to the horse; butif neither of such consequences follows, the sleigh is likely to touch occasionally on the horses legs, which at once breaks the horses gait and puts an end innuediately to the trotting. By the presentinvention all the likelihood of such accidents and objections is avoided by using a long front bar, and in this way spreading thefront posts apart at the top far beyond the ordinary width, and by attachingthe shaftjack back of the front post. Thus the horse can be brought very close to the sleigh without the least danger of harm to himself or of his harming the sleigh, and a very much needed class PECIE'ECATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 339.992, dated April 13. 1886.

Application filed February 12, 1886. Serial No.191,730.

(No model.)

arched bar B, the lower ends of which con-' stitute the posts. On the inside of this bar and under its arched top,in part, are the metal strengthening-strips C, while on the face of the arched portion of said bar is the metal strip or piece 6 E, all of said strips or pieces being secured on and to said bar in any usual way or manner. The strips Cand Eare made in the shape shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the portion at the bends 0 being very considerably thickened. The strip E is attached to the rear of the post and bar B, and runs the entire length of the top of the bar and a little way down the sides. As thus made, when they are applied to the post, they afford peculiar strength at the points where the greatest strain comesviz., the bendswhich is a feature of great value in this structure. The strips C extend from a point near the middlealmost the whole length of the bar and post, and their ends are secured on each side to the runners D by bolts or pins 0', which pass through the ends of said strips and the run ners. The ends of these strips may also be secured in and to the runners by mortise and tenon. In this construction the front bar and post become one. Its main upper part being extended quite across the front of the sleigh, a free and open space is secured at the fore part of the sleigh of nearly double that in ordinary sleighs. The shaft-jack F is placed at the junction of the rods G and H, which extend to the forward bent part of the runner and the curved iron rod I, which is fixed at itsinner end to the bend of the post. By this construction the jack can be brought to position just to the rear of the post. This is considered the most desirable; but a slight change so as to bring the jack abreast of the post or very slightly forward of it would not materially change its function, because even in this way the horse would still be attached close to the sleigh. By this construction and arrangement of the post and shaft-jack the horse can, when harnessed, stand close to the sleigh, and when in action will have opportunity for the free movement of his hind legs withontany danger of hitting any part of the sleigh. It will also be noticed that one important advantage in placingthe shaft-jack as described is, that the shafts can be turned up straight, as shown in dotted linesin Fig. 1. In this way the sleigh will take up but little room in the stable.

I am aware that heretofore in sleighs the knees have been strengthened by angle-irons, and that these have sometimes been stiffened by an inwardly-projecting web. I do not claim such devices or construction, because neither the one nor the other will at all answer the purposes of the, present invention.

This sleigh can be made very sightly and ornamental, and will not in appearance difier much, to the casual observer, from any ordinary sleigh, as all the other parts of the sleigh can be made and'bronght together in any well-known manner.

Having now described my invention, what I consider new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A trotting-sleigh having a long front arched bar, constructed as described, combined with a shaft-jack placed at the rear of the said bar, substantially as described.

2. A sleigh having a shaft-jack,'F, placed at the rear of the front post, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 35

3. In a'sleigh, a shaft-jack, F, combined with the bar B and the rods G, H, and I, whereby said jack is firmly held in position, substantially as described.

4. Inasleigh,a frontarchedbar,B.strengtho ened by the metal strip 0, thickest at the bends, and the bent metal strip E at its rear and top, and combined with the runners D, substantially as described.

5. In a sleigh, the combination of the front 45 archedbar, B, strengthened by the metal strip C- atits sides and bends, and the bent metal piece E, with the shalt-jack F, rods G, H, and I, and the runners D, substantially as described.

6. In asleigh, the combinationof the arched bar B with the inside curved metal strips, 0, one on each side, both thickest at the bends, and each extending from near the-middle of the bar to its foot, substantially as and for the 55 purposes set forth. it

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. CHARLES F. KIMBALL.

Witnesses:

LoUIs E. BURR, STUART B. ANDREWS. 

